Caramoor International Music Festival Presents Béla Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio

June 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Press Contact: Lois Cohn Associates
Lois Cohn, 917.339.7187, lcohn@lcohnpr.com
Brittnee Walker, 917.339.7183, bwalker@lcohnpr.com

KATONAH, NY – Béla Fleck returns to Caramoor this summer with his latest project on Saturday, August 4 at 8PM in the Venetian Theater.  Winner of 15 Grammy Awards ®, the genre-busting Fleck has been nominated in more different categories than anyone in Grammy® history.  Fleck, who brought his Africa Project to Caramoor in 2009, reveals the jazz side of his multiple musical personalities in a collaboration with the Marcus Roberts Trio, led by Roberts on piano, with Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass. The Trio reciprocates by visiting Béla’s more traditional musical geography.

“Fleck and the Marcus Roberts Trio had obviously spent a lot of time working together, but there was still an improvisational, what’s-going-to-happen-next feeling to the entire show.  After a stunning rendition of ‘Lullaby of Birdland,’ Fleck picked up a microphone and said, ‘I’ve never been terrified in such a friendly way before.’”
- Savannah Unplugged

TICKETS
Tickets are $15, $20, $37.50, and $52.50. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase, call the Caramoor Box Office at 914.232.1252 or visit www.caramoor.org. Groups of 16 or more may purchase discounted tickets by contacting Matthew Scarella at 914.232.5035 ext. 252 or matthew@caramoor.org.

PRESS TICKETS
For press tickets, images, artist information or interviews, contact: Brittnee Walker at 917.339.7183, bwalker@lcohnpr.com or Fiona Zwieb at 917.339.7189, fzwieb@lcohnpr.com.

PROGRAM
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 AT 8:00 PM IN THE VENETIAN THEATER
BÉLA FLECK AND THE MARCUS ROBERTS TRIO
$15, $20, $37.50, and $52.50
Program to be announced.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Béla Fleck is acknowledged as one of the world’s most innovative and technically proficient banjo players. He is best known for his work with the bands New Grass Revival and Béla Fleck and the Flecktones. He has been nominated in more categories than any other artist for a GRAMMY® and won 15 in total during his career. Fleck has appeared at the Savannah Music Festival, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Toronto Jazz Festival, Newport Folk Festival, Bonnaroo and the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, among others. He has collaborated with Asleep at the Wheel, Alison Brown, Edgar Meyer, John Williams, Joshua Bell, Jean-Luc Ponty and many more. Fleck names Chick Corea, Charlie Parker, and Earl Scruggs as influences to his career.

The Marcus Roberts Trio, led by Roberts on piano, Jason Marsalis on drums and Rodney Jordan on bass, are keen torch-holders of the classic jazz tradition. This trio has an entirely new approach to jazz trio performance. The group was founded in 1995, and 15 years later, they are known around the world for their signature trio style. Each trio member’s enormous individual talent is showcased along with the powerfully rhythmic group sound. The trio has toured worldwide, including appearances at the London Jazz Festival, the Savannah Music Festival, and Jazz at Lincoln Center.

ABOUT CARAMOOR
Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built their summer home – now known as the historic Rosen House at Caramoor – and filled it with their treasures.  Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, realizing his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.  Their musical evenings planted the seeds for today’s Caramoor International Music Festival.  Witnessing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor – the house with its art collection, the gardens, and the musical programs on summer evenings –the Rosens established a public trust to open Caramoor to the community in 1946.  Lucie Rosen survived her husband by seventeen years.  During those years, she expanded the Music Festival. The Spanish Courtyard was used as a setting for musical events, as it is today, and, under her direction, the great stage of the Venetian Theater was built.

Caramoor is a performing arts center located on a unique 90-acre setting of Italianate architecture and gardens in Westchester County, NY.  It enriches the lives of its audiences through innovative and diverse musical performances of the highest quality.  Its mission also includes mentoring young professional musicians and providing educational programs for young children centered on music.  It is often described as “a Garden of Great Music,” where audiences are invited to come early, explore the beautiful grounds, enjoy a pre-concert picnic, and discover beautiful music in the relaxed settings of the Venetian Theater, Spanish Courtyard, Music Room of the Rosen House, and the magnificent gardens.

With its unique heritage, Caramoor remains a place where magical summer days and nights are shared and enjoyed by thousands.  “Caramoor is the loveliest Festival of them all.” - The New York Times

Concert Venues and Gardens
Concerts take place in two outdoor theaters: the 1,714-seat, acoustically superb Venetian Theater and the more intimate, romantic 558-seat Spanish Courtyard.  Caramoor’s gardens are also well worth the visit and include nine unique perennial gardens.  Among them are a Sense Circle for the visually handicapped, a Butterfly Garden, Tapestry Hedge, and Iris and Peony Garden.

GETTING TO CARAMOOR
By car from the West Side of Manhattan and New Jersey, take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Katonah.  Exit at Route 35/Cross River.  Turn right and, at the first traffic light, make a right turn onto Route 22 south.  Travel 1.9 miles to the junction of Girdle Ridge Road.  Follow the signs to Caramoor. (For detailed directions call 914.232.5035 and press 4, or online at www.caramoor.org).  Parking at Caramoor is free.

By train, take the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Railroad to Katonah, New York.  Taxi service from the station to Caramoor (5 minutes away) is available.

CLICK THE FOLLOWING LINK FOR A FULL FESTIVAL CHRONOLOGY:
http://www.caramoor.org/pdf/Festival_Listings.pdf

CREDITS
Performances are made possible, in part, by ArtsWestchester with funds from
Westchester County Government.
Performances are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
The 2012 International Music Festival is supported in part by
an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.

CARAMOOR CENTER FOR MUSIC AND THE ARTS IS LOCATED AT
149 GIRDLE RIDGE ROAD, KATONAH, NEW YORK.

ALL PROGRAMS AND ARTISTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE